Wednesday, September 21, 2016

We're excited to announce we're accepting applications for two positions with Local 1500.
We are seeking applicants for a position on our Field Staff to assist
in servicing Local 1500 members throughout the Local 1500 jurisdiction
and are seeking applicants for a position at our Union Office in
Westbury, NY.

This opportunity is being offered first to members and former members of UFCW Local 1500

—JOB POSTING —

Job title: Field StaffPosition location: New York Metropolitan AreaStart date: As soon as possible

Summary:

The United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500 is the largest
grocery retail union in New York with over 20,000 members working in
grocery stores, pharmacies, and other industry jobs. We are a committed
to building a powerful union that fights for economic, political, and
social justice in our workplaces and communities.

We are seeking a self-motivated, skilled and enthusiastic person to assist our Union Representatives team.

Principal duties and requirements:

Build one-on-one relationships with workers.

Lead,
motivate and mobilize worksite leaders, stewards and members in
internal and external organizing, politics, community alliance building
and other union activities.

Develop and maintain rapport with staff and member leaders, working in a team environment.

Identify, recruit, train and develop worksite leaders and stewards.

Develop and maintain effective communication networks in worksites.

Manage working relationships with member leaders, stewards, and grievants.

Fills out and processes forms and documents in a timely and accurate manner.

Bilingual speaking (Spanish) is preferred.

Qualifications and Experience:

Strong interpersonal skills

Ability to
establish and maintain rapport and credibility with diverse demographic
groups, as well as with professional, technical, administrative and
service workers.

Effective written and verbal communication skills.

Ability to listen actively and articulate issues.

Ability to work long hours as necessary or travel frequently or as needed.

Valid driver's license, car and insurance.

Salary:

This position offers a competitive salary, full benefit package, commensurate with experience.

To apply:

E-mail cover letter and resume with subject line of the job which you
are applying for ("Field Staff") to jobs@ufcw1500.org. No mail applications. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Position will remain open until filled.

The United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1500 is an equal
opportunity employer. We encourage applications from women, people of
color and other members of underrepresented groups who will contribute
to the diversity of our staff.

As
our new union leadership brings new energy and different negotiation
tactics to the bargaining table, we're excited to share the news that
Fairway Drivers and Wild by Nature workers have ratified new contracts.

We're pleased to announce the hard working men and women of Wild by Nature
have ratified a new long-term contract. Wild by Nature is a chain of
five organic grocery stores located on Long Island. The new contract
includes raises and secures benefits for both part-time and full-time
workers.

The
truck drivers for Fairway Market have also ratified a multi-year
contract. The drivers are covered under a separate contract than men and
women working throughout Fairway Market's 17 stores. Under the new
contract a huge gain was made for Fairway Drivers, they will now receive pension benefits.

We're
proud of the hard work done by both union negotiation committees to
reach these contracts. Thank you all for your hard work.

Friday, September 9, 2016

Today at Best Yet in Huntington Station, NY, as part of an ongoing effort to highlight hardworking people, and their desire for better jobs, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union launched a coordinated television campaign and grassroots effort to show why Long Island needs Best Yet and Best Market stores to change for the better.

"I have lived on Long Island my entire life, I know the real difference that a good job with better wages and benefits can make," said Steven Dozier, a Local 1500 member from Roosevelt who is part of the ad. "When Best Market grew, they didn't do it alone, their hardworking employees and their dedication are the real secret to Best Market's success. Best Market needs to change and do what's right, by providing our neighbors and friends with better wages and benefits so that we can all have have a better future together. We want Best Market to live up to their name and do what's best for Long Island families, they owe it to those who work hard everyday and to our communities."

The television ad campaign will run on cable channels and local broadcast news programs throughout the Long Island region for multiple weeks.

UFCW/RWDSU Locals 338, 342 & 1500 along with community groups like the Long Island Progressive Coalition, Long Island Jobs with Justice rallied in front of Best Market's Huntington Station store, demanding the company do better by their employees.

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

We are glad to report that all three Shop Rite companies (Glass, Mannix & SRS) have been engaging in faithful, fair bargaining with your Union negotiating committees.

The only issue that has come up is scheduling the next negotiating sessions.

Both company and Union officials remain confident a contract agreement will be reached, however due to various issues, including all three companies using the same attorney and Wakefern bargaining representative, scheduling negotiation sessions has been difficult. An SRS contract negotiation session was just scheduled for September 29th. However, the majority of negotiations will not continue until early October.

The most important takeaway: You will not be working without a contract.

All three companies are faithful and eager to negotiate a new contract. They have signed contract extensions and your rights and benefits are secured.

As the next negotiation dates are scheduled or any news breaks we will let you know. In the meantime please encourage your coworkers to sign up for email and mobile updates and please do not hesitate to contact your Union Representative by phone or email if you have any questions.

Thursday, September 1, 2016

While most Americans view Labor Day as the last long
weekend of the summer and another day off work, this is the one day we should
all stop for a minute and recognize the countless number of men and women
across New York who make our community work. From workers at Stop & Shop to
Fairway, these amazing people are dedicated and passionate, sacrifice for the
good of others, and are committed to creating a better life for themselves and
their families.

Jerome Gomez, a UFCW Local 1500 member working at Fairway
Market, regularly donates blood to help his community. Or take a look at Georgette
Wilson a UFCW Local 1500 members from Stop & Shop, who besides fundraising and
walking each year for cancer charities like the Making Strides Against Breast
Cancer Walk and the Light the Night Walk, she travels to Albany every year to
fight for better legislation to help New York workers and to help her
community. These are the true every day heroes of Labor Day.

While these stories may not be new, they are rarely given
the media attention that a vacuous celebrity, lying athlete, or misbegotten
politician can attract with a single tweet. While that may speak to a failure
in our culture, we have opportunity on Labor Day to remember and acknowledge
what this day is truly about. It’s about workers. It’s about real people. In
fact, the the history behind this misunderstood holiday was actually a result
of one of the most intense and violent struggles for workers’ rights.

In 1894, during a time of
severe economic and social unrest, thousands of workers at the Pullman Palace Car Company in Chicago went
on strike to protest the way George Pullman, founder and president of the company,
treated his workers. To put down the strike, Pullman gained the support of
President Grover Cleveland, who ordered federal troops to intervene—leading to
a bloody confrontation and the deaths of more than 30 Pullman workers. Soon
afterwards and amid growing criticism of the brutal response to the striking
workers, President Cleveland established Labor Day as a national holiday in an
effort to appease organized labor.

It’s been 122 years since the Pullman Strike, and our country is still
grappling with economic divisions and social unrest.

Today, millions of hard-working Americans are struggling like never before
in low-paying jobs with erratic schedules
and little to no benefits.

It
is the sad reality that, in addition to stagnant wages and incomes, too many of
America’s workers face dangerous workplaces, exploitation, and mistreatment
every single day. Many are also too afraid to reach for a better life because
of threats from an irresponsible employer or they are conditioned to believe
that they have not earned the opportunity for something more.

Here
in New York, hard-working men and women who choose to become part of a union
family soon realize they need not struggle alone. In Westbury UFCW Local 1500
represents workers at Stop & Shop, Food Bazaar, Tops Markets, Fairway
Market, Key Food, Gristedes, D’Agostino, ShopRite, King Kullen and PeaPod.

Whether
someone is a union member or not, the fact is that no one in America should
have to struggle alone. Every hard-working person deserves a better life
because they’ve earned it.

This
Labor Day and in the days leading up to Election Day, we have a responsibility
to speak out for each other and our communities. We can start by honoring the sacrifices
working people here in New York City that have made to our shared prosperity of
New York and this country.

Yet,
if we are really going to change this nation for the better, it must begin with
all of us realizing that Labor Day is not about one last summery day. Rather, it’s
about the day where we all realize the power we have to come together and
define a better future for all hard-working families.

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